Licensed Addiction Counselor

Position Description

Under direction, provide individual and group counseling sessions to clients and facilitate skills-based therapy as well as evidence-based programming within the Fargo Cass Public Health Withdrawal Management Unit and affiliated programs.

Respond to mental health crises and emergencies within the Withdrawal Management Unit and affiliated programs, which may occasionally be provided on an on-call basis outside normal working hours, as needed. This position will also include assertive street outreach to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness in locations like streets, parks, abandoned buildings, encampments, or vehicles.

Provide clinical oversight and guidance to the Withdrawal Management Unit and work closely with the Program Coordinator in the development of clinical policies and protocols based on best practices and licensing standards set forth by the North Dakota Health and Human Services Administrative Code, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC).

Manage client cases by coordinating referrals and support services and develop and implement individualized treatment plans.

The position also involves conducting substance use disorder assessments and determining appropriate ASAM levels of care.

Additionally, you will be responsible for maintaining accurate, timely, and compliant documentation and ensuring that all client records meet licensure standards for substance abuse treatment programs.

• This position is funded by Opioid Resettlement funds and is secured through the time these funds remain available.

Scope of Responsibility :

Responsible for the quality and accuracy of his or her own work. Complies with current licensure standards, and scope of practice set forth by the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the Withdrawal Management Unit Program Coordinator.

Provides clinical direction and oversight to Harm Reduction Advocates working directly within the Fargo Cass Public Health Withdrawal Management Unit, other Harm Reduction staff, and students.

Primary Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a bachelor’s degree in Addiction Counseling, Addiction Studies, Social Work, Counseling or Psychology, and current licensure as an Addiction Counselor by the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners (NDBACE) and a minimum of 2 years of experience as a Licensed Addiction Counselor required.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities :

Physical Demands

Physical Demands & Working Conditions :

Medium Work : Most work is performed in the Withdrawal Management Unit (55%) and other programs within other affiliated programs, including the Gladys Ray Shelter, Street Outreach, Syringe Services Programs and the Downtown Engagement Center (45%) Work will generally be performed in a normal office environment. Work is generally light with considerable variety. Daily work will involve moving between buildings and rooms, and within community to meet with stakeholders and partners (10%). Regular driving is required to attend meetings. The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue. There is considerable attention to detail and deadlines.

The job involves activities related to crisis prevention and intervention. Frequently there is a requirement to actively participate in day-to-day maintenance activities. There may be intermittent exposure to disagreeable working conditions associated with guest or client behavior, illness or hygiene. This job includes primarily working Monday through Friday, during the day and evening hours. However, there may be times when it is required to work outside these normal working hours of work.

Activities include stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, digital dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing / listening, seeing / observing, repetitive motions.

Physical demands are normally those associated with medium work : Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and / or 10 pounds of force frequently or constantly. The job may require dealing with individuals who are emotionally charged.

There is regular exposure to potential hazards such as body fluids, contagious diseases and environmental hazards.

Agency Summary :

Fargo Cass Public Health strives to provide the Essential Public Health Services to achieve equity and actively promote policies, systems, and overall community conditions that enable optimal health for all and seek to remove systemic and structural barriers that have resulted in health inequities.

Such barriers include poverty, racism, gender discrimination, ableism, and other forms of oppression. Everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Fargo Cass Public Health is a politically neutral organization focused on evidence-based and fundamental public health practices that reflect the mission of Public Health to prevent, promote, and protect. Staff of Public Health are expected to represent these principles and be advocates of public health practices within the community and state.